obey

Obey, as defined on dictionary.com...

1. to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of: to obey one's parents.
2. to comply with or follow (a command, restriction, wish, instruction, etc.).
3. (of things) to respond conformably in action to: The car obeyed the slightest touch of the steering wheel.
4. to submit or conform in action to (some guiding principle, impulse, one's conscience, etc.).


Psalm 14:5b ...God is with those who obey Him.


So, the obverse of that would be that God is NOT with those who disobey Him?

trials

1 Peter 1:7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.


My Life Application Bible says this about that verse...

"As gold is heated, impurities float to the top& can be skimmed off.

"Steel is tempered or straightened by heating it in fire.

"Likewise, our trials, struggles,& persecutions refine & strengthen our faith, making us useful to God"


What they fail to mention is that a VERY high heat is used in the refining process. Iow, those impurities often get burned off, as well as skimmed off.

Anyone like having impurities in our lives burned off?!

Whenever I hear someone say, "I want the Lord to refine me" I often wonder if they've ever had Him do that?

It's kinda like praying for patience - God will then usually send someone into your life that will drive you crazy!

So what can we do when we're in the refining phase?

Endure.

He won't kill us. It'll just feel like it.

Will some of the impurities be burned off or skimmed off?

yes.

Will it hurt like all get out?

yes.

Will we be better, happier, & more useful for Him, even though it's a painful process?

yes.

How do I know?

I've got so many burn marks, I've named some of them.

;-)

promises

Psalm 12:6
The Lord's promises are pure,
   like silver refined in a furnace,
     purified seven times over.


So, what does that mean to you?

some verses from James

I hope y'all understand that I'm just a guy writing about stuff he reads. I'm not all that special or wise. Whatever may speak to you from what I write or say comes from the Holy Spirit, not from me. We all understand that now?

Anyway, here's some verses from James 4...

vs 2c ...the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. 3a And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong...

Is this one of those "you have not because you ask not" kinda things? of course, comin' right after it is the kicker "you don't get what you ask for because your motives are wrong".
So, I guess we're supposed to ask - well, I guess we're supposed to talk to God about everything & anything, while at the same time checking our motives for the whole thing?
This may be an obvious observation to you. I'm just thinkin' out loud here.

vs 5 The Holy Spirit, whom God placed within you, jealously longs for us to be faithful. 6a He gives us more & more strength to stand...

It's an interesting thought that the Holy Spirit "longs" for us to be & do what we're supposed to be & do. If you think about it, it can kind of kick you butt. The Powerhouse of the universes is aware of us (nanospecks in the cosmos) & yearns for us to be & do the right thing.
And then on top of that is willing to give us the power to be & do it.
I know this is something we all know in our heads, but do we live it in our hearts?

vs 10 when you bow down before the Lord & admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you up & give you honor.

This is pretty obvious - if we admit we can't do anything much, then that frees God up to work in us & through us without any hindrances from us

trust

Proverbs 3:5 (The Message)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
(dan note: we never know if we really trust God until He tells us to be or do something that doesn't make any sense to us.)


     don't try to figure out everything on your own.
(dan note: how many of us - me especially - are ALWAYS trying to figure out what God's doing?)


Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
(dan note: how many of us REALLY listen for God's voice, or do we make our best guess & see if He approves?)


     He's the One Who will keep you on track.
(dan note: how many of us REALLY think God will take care of us, or do we trust "God takes care of those who take care of themselves"?)

faith

James 2:21 Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was declared right with God because of what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God asked him to do.

His faith was made complete by what he did - by his actions.


Could it be that we really don't have complete faith in God until we do something He's tells us to do that makes absolutely no sense?

testing

James 1
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.


  5 If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - just ask Him, and He will tell you. 

He will not resent your asking.

6 But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer,
     for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.



This speaks to where I am this morning - does it speak to you?

from the last chapter in Hebrews

Closing words from the writer of Hebrews...

Hebrews 13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.

2 Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

  4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

  5 Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. (dan note: anybody out there satisfied with what they have?)


For God has said,

"I will never fail you.
  I will never abandon you." (dan note: this is my life verse)

6 So we can say with confidence,

"The LORD is my helper,
  so I will have no fear.
  What can mere people do to me?"*

  7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

  8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. (dan note: in my 61 yrs, I've seen a LOT of strange, new ideas that have come & gone.)


Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.


Just sayin'...

discipline

Don't know who this is for, but here goes...

Hebrews 12:
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.

Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.

3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;
     then you won't become weary and give up.
     4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

  5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

"My child, don't make light of the LORD's discipline,
  and don't give up when he corrects you.
6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves,
  and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.
     Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

8 If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

  10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how.

But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful!

But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

the other 98%

Hebrews 11:35b But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free.

They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

36 Some were jeered at,
    and their backs were cut open with whips.
    Others were chained in prisons.
    37 Some died by stoning,
    some were sawed in half,
    and others were killed with the sword.
    Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats,
        destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

38 They were too good for this world,
     wandering over deserts and mountains,
     hiding in caves and holes in the ground.


Erwin McManus, in his boo, "The Barbarian Way," points out something important, I believe.

All through the 34 verses that precede these verses I've quoted, the writer of Hebrews talked about the "big dogs" of the faith.

But they were the exceptions of those who lived a life of faith.

McManus says that those described in these quoted verses are more closely describing what many people endured because of their faith.


We all hold up those who were towers of strength in their faith.

But the truth is, nowadays, most of us rock along,
   not engaging in the glamorous lives of the glitterati of the faith,
   we simply believe,
   endure the crap people & the devil throw at us,
   hold fast to the truth that God' in charge,
   He's gonna take care of us one way or another,
   & that the worst that could happen is that we could die & go & be with Him.

lifting our heads

Psalm 3:1 O LORD, I have so many enemies;
  so many are against me.
2 So many are saying,
  "God will never rescue him!" 

3 But you, O LORD, are a shield around me;
  you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
4 I cried out to the LORD,
  and he answered me from his holy mountain.

5 I lay down and slept,
  yet I woke up in safety,
  for the LORD was watching over me.
6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
  who surround me on every side.


Sometimes, the weight of opposition from people, or the burden of problems, or the confusion over what to be or do gets to us.

Sometimes, it is literally hard to lift up our heads. We walk around looking down.

Here, the psalmist says God gives us such hope, God gives us such strength, God gives us such courage & power. that the heaviness of our load lightens to where we can figuratively & litersally life our heads & face was is going on, & keep moving forward.


Anyone out there need to hear this besides me?


The last few days I've felt like I've been talking to somebody, or somebodies. If that's you, will you let me know? Maybe we can help tote each other's load(s)

distractions

Proverbs 4:25
(NLT) Look straight ahead, & fix your eyes on what lies before you.

(The Message) Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.

(NIV) Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

(CEV) Keep looking straight ahead, without turning aside.


This is one of the verses contained within one of the 5 passages I believe God's given me to hold on to during this present season of my life.

And trust me on this, they are the only thing keeping me from going crazy (or crazier) sometimes.

For some reason, this verse came up off the page today - I read the passages most every day - like I said, crazy or crazier ;-)

Especially these words came up - "fix your eyes on what lies before you"

I go to biblegateway.com when I want to read a verse or passage in a lot of different translations. It helps get an overview of what He's trying to say.

I got the feeling He's saying "don't be distracted by what's going on around you. keep moving forward. keep on. keep you focus on who you are & what you're about."

I'll be carrying that with me today. Maybe there will be lots of things coming today that the devil will be sending to try to distract me from what God wants me to be here & now, & what wants me to be about. I don't know. We'll see as the day or days progress.

Just so's ya know, I'm easily distracted.

I get the feeling this is for someone else besides me, too. To you, I say the same thing - don't be distracted with whatever is going on around you, or inside you. God's in control. Keep on.

psalms

Psalm 1
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
  follow the advice of the wicked,
  or stand around with sinners,
  or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the LORD,
  meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
  bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
  and they prosper in all they do.


In January, 2003, God started waking me up early to read the Bible & listen for out for Him. Trust me, for me to wake up at 4 a.m. every morning without an alarm has to be God!

I had read somewhere that Billy Graham reads a psalm every day. I figured if it works for him, maybe it would work for me.

I'm starting my 16th or 17th time of reading psalm through. There's 150, 1 a day, then I read through Proverbs with 31 chapters of Proverbs - well, you can do the math. That comes to reading through Psalms & Proverbs twice a year, approximately.

Each time I read I see something different.

Each time through, God will use a psalm to speak to a situation or some need that is going on at the time.

There is a richness to this book that is as wide & deep as God himself.

Ya might wanna think about reading a psalm each day.

Look what it's done for Billy & me! ;-)


If you've read this blog more than 2 or 3 times, you heard me say this - I'm gonna say it again, because if I can influence 1 person to start reading the Bible each day, it will be worth it. Just understand one thing - if you do, God will mess with you, BIG TIME.


The smartest thing I've ever done in my life was to get up when God started waking me up, & reading the Bible & listening out for Him.

The dumbest thing I've ever done was waiting until I was 52 1/2 to do it.

forgotten

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. 11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.



13 For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

14 "I will certainly bless you,
  and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."*

15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.
  16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. 20a Jesus has already gone in there for us.


Have you ever been forgotten, or felt forgotten?

Dictionary.com defines it as...
   to cease or fail to remember;
   be unable to recall;
   leave unnoticed;
   to fail to think of;
   take no note of.

Being forgotten hurts. It undermines our basic self worth.

"If I was so important to this person, why did he or she so quickly forget me, disconnect from me, or move on in their lives without me?"

But God doesn't forget, ever.

Even though we may think He has, neglect is foreign to His very nature.

So, what do we do when we think we feel forgotten by God?

We wait.

(btw, this is not something I do well - & it's my last name!)

He hasn't forgotten us.

accountability

Hebrews 4
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful.

      It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.

   It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.

     Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes,
  
 and he is the one to whom we are accountable.



14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses,

     for he faced all of the same testings we do,

yet he did not sin.

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.

There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.



We have a lot of warm & fuzzy thinking about God

And true, He is the essence of love, & wants us to think of Him as a father.

But let's not forget Who we're hooked up with...
   His holiness would incinerate us if we stood before Him.
   He knows everything.
   He has always been.
   He will always be.
   He just has to think it & the universes are created.


And He knows everything about us.


And one day, you & I will stand before Him.


Thank the Lord there's Jesus to speak up for us.

don't harden your heart

Hebrews 3
12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.

Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.

13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

15 Remember what it says:

"Today when you hear his voice,
  don't harden your hearts
  as Israel did when they rebelled."


Who's this for besides me?

one step at a time

Proverbs 4:25 Look straight ahead,
   and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
   stay on the safe path.

27 Don't get sidetracked;
   keep your feet from following evil.


I wonder how Moses & the children of Israel had the strength to put one foot in front of the other as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years?

what we have

Hebrews 1
1 Long ago God spoke many times
     and in many ways
   to our ancestors
     through the prophets.

2 And now in these final days, He has spoken to us through his Son.

God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance,
   and through the Son he created the universe.

3 The Son radiates God's own glory
   and expresses the very character of God,

and He sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.

When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.


In the crazy lives we lives, it's easy to forget the basics of our life & walk with God.

We become used to the fact that the God of the universes chose to come & live among us, showing Himself to us, & to make a way for us to connect with Him.

useful

I read through the one chapter book of Philemon this morning. (I wonder if his nickname was "Phil"?)

This book is a letter from Paul to his friend & Christ follower named Philemon.

It seems Phil's slave, Onesimus, had run away. Running away many times could get you a severe beating or death back then.

Onesimus had come to know Paul, & had become a Christ follower as well.

Paul sent Onesimus back to Phil. Paul is asking Phil in this book to accept Onesimus back as a brother in Christ.

Onesimus means "useful"

I've always thought it would be cool to have a ministry call Onesimus & to have as your mission to simply be useful.

Here's what dictionary.com says are the current meanings of "useful"
1. being of use  or service; serving some purpose; advantageous, helpful, or of good effect: a useful member of society.
2. of practical use,  as for doing work; producing material results; supplying common needs: the useful arts; useful work.

So many times we think we have to "convert the nations" or accomplish something on a huge scale.

Lots of the time we spend so much effort winning others approval of our spiritual or temporal activities.

I wonder sometimes if many of us would find we are touching more lives, having more impact & influence, & doing more for the Kingdom of God if we simply tried to be useful in our day to day lives & let God take care of the consequences of our usefulness.

what He did/does

Titus 3:4 When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 He saved us,

   not because of the righteous things we had done,

      but because of his great mercy.

He washed away our sins,

    giving us a new birth

     and new life through the Holy Spirit.

6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.



Somebody reading this right now needs to know that He washed away your sins.

I don't know who you are, but as I wrote this blog this morning, I got a strong impression that there was someone out there struggling with the thought that you think your sins are so great that God can't wash yours away. (Trust me, I don't speak specifically like this very often, if ever.)


You think your sins are too great to be washed away, forgiven, forgotten.

Not so...

God forgives

He forgets them - He can do that.

And He does wash them all away.

And He can & will wash away whatever it is you think can't be washed away. The taint of whatever you're carrying around can be gone if you just let Him.

Trust Him that He can & will do that for you. He can - He did it & does it for me.

nearness

Right before I woke up this morning, I was dreaming I was directing a choir singing this song. They'd only sung the 1st verse & were ready to sing the chorus when I work up to get up & read.


It's a hymn / gospel song that's been around for a long while.

unfortunately, I couldn't find the choir I remember singing it on a tape my roommate at college had (yeah, that long ago!). The only ones I could find on YouTube were uber-hokie.

this may be just for me this morning - maybe it's for someone else, too


anyway, here's what I kept thinking about this song as I read this a.m...



sometimes our faith is greatest when we don't feel it



My Lord Is Near Me All The Time - Words and Music: Barbara Fowler Gaultney Copyright 1967


In the lightning flash across the sky
His mighty pow’r I see,
And I know if He can reign on high,
His light can shine on me.

I’ve seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder,
And felt it in the rain;
My Lord is near me all the time,
My Lord is near me all the time.

When the thunder shakes the mighty hills
And trembles ev’ry tree,
Then I know a God so great and strong
Can surely harbor me.

I’ve seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder,
And felt it in the rain;
My Lord is near me all the time,
My Lord is near me all the time.

When refreshing showers cool the earth
And sweep across the sea,
Then His rainbow shines within my heart,
His nearness comforts me.

I’ve seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder,
And felt it in the rain;
My Lord is near me all the time,
My Lord is near me all the time.

some more thing from this a.m.

Proverbs 21
vs 23 If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble.

vs 30 Human plans, no matter how wise or well advised, cannot stand against the Lord.

vs 31 The horses are prepared for battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

********

2 Timothy 4:5
   You should keep a clear mind in every situation.

   Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord.

   Work at bringing others to Christ.

   Complete the work God has given you.


Don't know who those were for besides me...

just some things I read this a.m.

Proverbs 20

vs 24 How can we understand the road we travel. It is the Lord who directs our steps.

dan note: boy, howdy! I'm SO clueless these days. It's the trusting in His plans & faithfulness that keep me from going crazy (crazier?).

vs 27 The Lord's searchlight penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motvie.

dan note: yeah, I'm there.

vs 29 The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor o the old.

dan note: well...   ;-)

********

2 Timothy 3
10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. 11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. 12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

  14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

dan note: where would I be if I hadn't started reading the Bible every day, starting in January, 2003? Let's not think about that. It's way too scary a thought!

purpose & power

Proverbs 19:21 You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.

How many of us really believe that?

Do we really trust that in the end, God's purpose, His will, will prevail?

And if we do believe this, how will it show up in our lives?

And if we don't, what then?


2 Timothy 2:1 ...be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus

My Life Application BIble says this about that verse...

"How can someone be strong with special favor. That special favor refers to grace, God's undeserved favor on our behalf. Just as we are saved by God's special favor, we should live by it.

"This means trusting completely in Christ & His power, & not trying to live for Christ in our strength alone.

"Receive & utilize Christ's power. He will give you the strength to do His work."

So, if we are in line with God's overarching will & will for our lives, He's the One responsible for its outcome, not us?

And He's the One who empowers us (not each of us) to be the channels of that will?

And if we do believe this, how will it show up in our lives?

And if we don't, what then?


Think about it...

parting words

some words from Paul that he wrote his last letter to Timothy before Paul died...


2 Timothy 1
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him.
   With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.

9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life.

He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.


12b ...for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

  13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me - a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.

14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us,
        carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

refining

Proverbs 17:3 Fire tests the purity of silver & gold, bu the Lord tests the heart.


My Life Application Bible says this about that verse...

"It takes intense heat to purify silver & gold.

"Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for Christians to be purified.

"Through trials , God shows us what is in us & clears out anything that gets in the way of complete trust in Him.

"Peter says, 'These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong & pure. It is being tested as fire tests & purifies gold - & your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.' (1 Peter 1:7)

"So when tough times come your way, realize that God wants to use the to refine your faith & purify your heart."


Oh my...

ripple effect

1 Timothy 5:24 Remember that some people lead sinful lives, & everyone knows they will be judged. But there are others whose sin will not be revealed until later. 25 In the same way, everyone knows how much good some people do, but there are others whose good deeds won't be known until later.

I know that on the surface these 2 verses are about sins or good deeds we do in secret. That's a pretty straightforward understanding. But when I read especially verse 25 this morning, I thought of something that happened recently.

I got a message from a woman who was a part of the ministries I led earlier in my life. She kinda grew up from a child while I was around her. She's a grown woman now, married, & off on a new & exciting life.

In her note, she just shared briefly & simply the impact that Lynn & I had on her life.

I had no idea we had that kind of influence on her.

I said all that to say this...

We just never know the ripple effects of our lives. We never know know how by just being who we are as a Christ follower will affect the people around us.

Without becoming neurotic, I think we should at least understand that God is able to interpret our lives & actions in the minds of people we come in contact with in ways we may never fully know until we get to heaven.

And there are ripple effects to our lives - God uses us to influence people, who's lives, thinking, direction, & choices with people are affected. And then those people's lives, thinking, direction,  & choices are affected.

Thus the ripples from our lives continue to touch people in ever widening circles.

(I hope that made sense.)

It's both sobering, & exciting.

Think about it...